Rabies Test Submission Report - Ohio Department Of Health (Page 2 of 2) in pdf

Ohio Department of Health Laboratory

Guidelines for Rabies Specimen Submission

will be considered only in situations where the rabbit or

Laboratory Testing

rodent has displayed clinical signs compatible with

The standard test for detecting rabies is a fluorescent

rabies and there has been a human exposure. Contact

antibody test on brain tissue. If the test is positive, it is

the ODH Zoonotic Disease Program at (888) 722-4371.

assumed the saliva also contained virus and the animal was

infectious for rabies. If the test is negative, rabies virus is

considered not to have been in the saliva. Rabies specimens

Specimens Handling and Packaging

are processed Monday through Friday afternoons, and

Animal heads or brain tissue should be kept

results are read the following workday morning. Results are

refrigerated but not frozen. The specimen should be

then phoned to the submitter. Rabies samples should be

double bagged using heavy plastic and each bag should

addressed as below:

be properly sealed. Do not use metal twist ties. If the

specimen has any sharp protruding parts such as

Ohio Department of Health Laboratory

shattered bone, wrap it in several layers of newspaper

8995 E. Main Street

first. Place the bagged specimen in an insulated

Building 22 (ODHL)

container and surround the specimen with frozen

Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068

packs. If dry ice must be used, place aluminum foil or

(614) 644-4654

several layers of newspaper between it and the

specimen to prevent freezing. If more than one animal

Only rabies testing is done at Ohio Department of Health

of the same species is submitted in a container, each

(ODH). If a diagnosis other than rabies is of interest,

head should be bagged and tagged separately for

contact a veterinary pathology service such as The Ohio

identification. Seal container securely with tape.

State University Veterinary School at (614) 292-5661 or the

Ohio Department of Agriculture at (614) 728-6220. Often

A fully completed Rabies Test Submission Report must

specimens can be sent to them first, and they will forward

be included for each specimen submitted. If the form

tissue to ODHL. These and/or other private labs may have

is submitted within the shipping container, be sure it is

their own fees.

sealed in a separate waterproof bag in the event of

leakage. If necessary, securely affix it in an envelope

to the outside of the container.

Appropriate Specimens

Live animals will not be accepted at the lab. Send only the

head of animal to be tested. In the case of bats, mice and

Shipping

gerbils, the whole animal is suitable.

Specimens should be either hand delivered, or sent by

overnight courier service. Do not ship on Fridays or

Tissue must be fresh. Do not submit maggot-infested or

before holidays as there may be no one at the lab to

extremely decomposed specimens or specimens fixed in

accept delivery on weekends. Instead, hold the

formalin.

specimen until the following weekday.

Specimens can be delivered directly to the ODHL from

Specimen Preparation

8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Animals should be killed in a humane manner without

There is no after-hours or weekend access to the

damaging the skull. Only experienced persons or

laboratory facility to drop off specimens.

veterinarians with current rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis

should perform decapitations of rabies-suspect animals.

Emergency

Water-repellent gloves, protective clothing and goggles

should be worn for safety. Carcasses should be disposed of

For questions or an emergency testing situation, call

in accordance with local and state laws.

the ODHL during business hours at (614) 644-

4654. For reporting rabies suspect animals or animal

bites, contact your local health department. The ODH

Charge for Testing

Zoonotic Disease Program is also available to answer

There is a $30 charge for pet and wild rodents including

rabies exposure questions at (888) 722-4371 or (614)

gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, mice, rabbits, rats, squirrels

752-1029. Additional information on rabies is available

and chipmunks, shrews and moles. There is no charge for

on the ODH Rabies Web site

testing other animal species. Please make checks payable to

“Treasurer, State of Ohio”. Business entities should include

or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at

their Federal Tax ID number on the check.

In counties where raccoon rabies is endemic, fee exemption

may be requested for testing rabbits or wild rodents. This

Rabies Test Submission Report - Ohio Department Of Health Page 2

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